Hartford Schools Go the Extra Mile Reaching Out to ParentsAs recently reported by The Associated Press, "Eight low-performing elementary schools in Connecticut, including three in Hartford, must offer parents school choice or extra services for their children. These schools were among the schools deemed priority schools under the previous state system for school accountability."

Following are excerpts from the article, detailing the schools??? efforts to reach out to parents and inform them of new options:

"This spring, the [Hartford] city school district held meetings for parents, sent letters home with students and even used Spanish-language radio to try to get the message out about the federal No Child Left Behind law."

"In Hartford, Marta Bentham, a parent advocate who works for the board of education, has been working with school administrators, principals and parents to educate people about No Child Left Behind."

"So far, 55 students at Milner, Moylan and Kinsella schools have applied to transfer and 500 students have requested supplemental services, said Jerry Clapis, who works in the district's communications department."

This article was originally published by The Associated Press on June 27, 2003, and is no longer available online.